A switchable permanent magnetic unit is disclosed. The unit comprises: a housing, first and second permanent magnets, and a conductive coil. The first magnet is mounted within the housing and the second magnet is rotatable between first and second positions and mounted within the housing in a stacked relationship with the first magnet. The unit generates a first level of magnetic flux at a workpiece contact interface when the second magnet is in the first position and a second level of magnetic flux at the interface when the second magnet is in the second position, the second level being greater than the first level. The conductive coil is arranged about the second magnet and generates a magnetic field. A component of the conductive coil's magnetic field is directed from S to N along the second magnet's N-S pole pair when the second magnet is in the first position.

A switchable permanent magnetic unit is disclosed. The unit comprises: a housing, first and second permanent magnets, and a conductive coil. The first magnet is mounted within the housing and the second magnet is rotatable between first and second positions and mounted within the housing in a stacked relationship with the first magnet. The unit generates a first level of magnetic flux at a workpiece contact interface when the second magnet is in the first position and a second level of magnetic flux at the interface when the second magnet is in the second position, the second level being greater than the first level. The conductive coil is arranged about the second magnet and generates a magnetic field. A component of the conductive coil's magnetic field is directed from S to N along the second magnet's N-S pole pair when the second magnet is in the first position.

A switchable permanent magnetic unit is disclosed. The unit comprises: a housing, first and second permanent magnets, and a conductive coil. The first magnet is mounted within the housing and the second magnet is rotatable between first and second positions and mounted within the housing in a stacked relationship with the first magnet. The unit generates a first level of magnetic flux at a workpiece contact interface when the second magnet is in the first position and a second level of magnetic flux at the interface when the second magnet is in the second position, the second level being greater than the first level. The conductive coil is arranged about the second magnet and generates a magnetic field. A component of the conductive coil's magnetic field is directed from S to N along the second magnet's N-S pole pair when the second magnet is in the first position.

A valve drive device has a camshaft which includes a shaft element and a cam piece which can be driven by the shaft element and a first cam effecting a first stroke of a valve and a second cam effecting a second stroke of the valve, and is displaceable in the axial direction of the camshaft relative to the shaft element between a first position, in which the valve can be actuated by the first cam, and a second position in which the valve can be actuated by the second cam, and has an electrically controllable actuator via which the cam piece is displaceable relative to the shaft element in the axial direction as a result of an electrical control of the actuator. The actuator pushes the cam piece alternately back and forth between the positions in the case of successive electrical controls occurring with the same polarity.

A valve drive device has a camshaft which includes a shaft element and a cam piece which can be driven by the shaft element and a first cam effecting a first stroke of a valve and a second cam effecting a second stroke of the valve, and is displaceable in the axial direction of the camshaft relative to the shaft element between a first position, in which the valve can be actuated by the first cam, and a second position in which the valve can be actuated by the second cam, and has an electrically controllable actuator via which the cam piece is displaceable relative to the shaft element in the axial direction as a result of an electrical control of the actuator. The actuator pushes the cam piece alternately back and forth between the positions in the case of successive electrical controls occurring with the same polarity.

An electromagnetic propulsion system is provided. The system comprises first and second pluralities of stator coils wound about first and second axes, a plurality of support structures, first and second couplers that surround portions of the first and second pluralities of stator coils, and first and second pluralities of sets of rotor coils wound about axes that are parallel to the first and second axes. The stator coils are configured to receive electric current through an outside controller selecting appropriately coupled stator sections or through a sliding electrical contact system or bearing system to induce at least a first magnetic field. The plurality of support structures supports the first and second plurality of stator coils. The first and second couplers include notches and are oriented so that their notches pass over the plurality of support structures when the couplers move along the stator coils. The couplers may have an adjustable segment to close the notch. The sets of rotor coils are equidistantly attached to the couplers and are configured to receive electric current to induce magnetic fields that interact with the magnetic fields of the stator coils so that magnetic forces are applied to the plurality of rotor coils, thereby propelling the couplers along the stator coils.

An electromagnetic propulsion system is provided. The system comprises first and second pluralities of stator coils wound about first and second axes, a plurality of support structures, first and second couplers that surround portions of the first and second pluralities of stator coils, and first and second pluralities of sets of rotor coils wound about axes that are parallel to the first and second axes. The stator coils are configured to receive electric current through an outside controller selecting appropriately coupled stator sections or through a sliding electrical contact system or bearing system to induce at least a first magnetic field. The plurality of support structures supports the first and second plurality of stator coils. The first and second couplers include notches and are oriented so that their notches pass over the plurality of support structures when the couplers move along the stator coils. The couplers may have an adjustable segment to close the notch. The sets of rotor coils are equidistantly attached to the couplers and are configured to receive electric current to induce magnetic fields that interact with the magnetic fields of the stator coils so that magnetic forces are applied to the plurality of rotor coils, thereby propelling the couplers along the stator coils.

A valve drive device has a camshaft which includes a shaft element and a cam piece which can be driven by the shaft element and a first cam effecting a first stroke of a valve and a second cam effecting a second stroke of the valve, and is displaceable in the axial direction of the camshaft relative to the shaft element between a first position, in which the valve can be actuated by the first cam, and a second position in which the valve can be actuated by the second cam, and has an electrically controllable actuator via which the cam piece is displaceable relative to the shaft element in the axial direction as a result of an electrical control of the actuator. The actuator pushes the cam piece alternately back and forth between the positions in the case of successive electrical controls occurring with the same polarity.

A valve drive device has a camshaft which includes a shaft element and a cam piece which can be driven by the shaft element and a first cam effecting a first stroke of a valve and a second cam effecting a second stroke of the valve, and is displaceable in the axial direction of the camshaft relative to the shaft element between a first position, in which the valve can be actuated by the first cam, and a second position in which the valve can be actuated by the second cam, and has an electrically controllable actuator via which the cam piece is displaceable relative to the shaft element in the axial direction as a result of an electrical control of the actuator. The actuator pushes the cam piece alternately back and forth between the positions in the case of successive electrical controls occurring with the same polarity.

A switchable permanent magnetic unit is disclosed. The unit comprises: a housing, first and second permanent magnets, and a conductive coil. The first magnet is mounted within the housing and the second magnet is rotatable between first and second positions and mounted within the housing in a stacked relationship with the first magnet. The unit generates a first level of magnetic flux at a workpiece contact interface when the second magnet is in the first position and a second level of magnetic flux at the interface when the second magnet is in the second position, the second level being greater than the first level. The conductive coil is arranged about the second magnet and generates a magnetic field. A component of the conductive coil's magnetic field is directed from S to N along the second magnet's N-S pole pair when the second magnet is in the first position.